As 2020 finally draws to a close, Pantone has revealed its ‘colour of the year’. But in these times unusual times, where nothing is going as it should and traditions are broken, the Pantone Color Institute has also done something unusual and broke with tradition. The institute selected not one but two colours representing the year 2021. The chosen colours are a light yellow (called ‘illuminating’) and a moody gray (named ‘ultimate grey’). 

Seeing as 2021 could go either way and things are very much still up in the air, Pantone is doing a good job covering all bases about how 2021 is going to pan out. According to the institute, the keyword here is ‘balance’; we should see the two colours as a unified pair. They further motivated their choice for 2021 as follows:

 

“The union of an enduring ultimate grey with the vibrant yellow Illuminating expresses a message of positivity supported by fortitude. Practical and rock solid, but at the same time warming and optimistic, this is a colour combination that gives us resilience and hope. We need to feel encouraged and uplifted; this is essential to the human spirit.”

Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute


It can also be said that the grey colour symbolises the sombre and unusual times we are (hopefully) leaving behind in the first part 2021. The yellow represents the light at the end of the tunnel, which will hopefully take place in the latter part of 2021. 

The Pantone colour of the year shouldn’t be seen as a prophecy on which colours are going to be trending in fashion, design and interior. It should be seen as an aspiration for what 2021 is going to embody.